Psychology License from West Virginia to Michigan: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) ↗
A psychology license transfers from West Virginia to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs), verify your West Virginia license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — endorsement applicants have their EPPP score verified electronically through the ASPPB PSY|PRO score-transfer service rather than re-sitting the exam; Michigan's psychologist licensing guide sets out no separate state jurisprudence examination.
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Same data, interactive — with share link and board links.
Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
West Virginia and Michigan both participate in PSYPACT, and it is worth being blunt about what that does and does not buy you, because the compact's name misleads a lot of psychologists. It does not transfer your license. Moving from West Virginia to Michigan means applying to the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) for licensure by endorsement exactly as you would if neither state had ever joined — license verification, doctoral transcript, supervised-experience review, Michigan's jurisprudence requirement. What the shared participation genuinely gives you is different and still valuable: while you remain licensed and resident in West Virginia, you can serve Michigan clients by telepsychology under an APIT authorization, and work in person in Michigan for up to 30 days a year under a TAP. That can cover a transition period — it cannot cover the move.
What changes, West Virginia → Michigan
| West Virginia (current) | Michigan (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| PSYPACT status | PSYPACT member — multistate license honored | PSYPACT member — multistate license honored |
| Application fee | $120–$525 (17CSR1 §2.1 application fee $120; the oral examination required of every reciprocity applicant is a further $405 (§2.6.1), so a typical reciprocity applicant pays about $525. Not included: $25 application-packet mailing/handling, $90 temporary permit, $180 continued oral examination. All Board fees are nonrefundable.) | $204 (Application fee plus 2-year license fee for a psychologist license is $204.00, payable only by credit or debit card. Applications and fees remain valid for two years. Biennial renewal is $209.60. Certified license verification from Michigan costs $15.00 per address.) |
| Processing time | The Board publishes no stated review timeline. Timing is driven by the oral examination, which is scheduled at a Board meeting and requires all oral-exam materials at least 15 days in advance; a 90-day temporary permit is available to bridge the wait. | 4–6 weeks (The Bureau states that applications are reviewed in the order received and that processing time typically varies from 4 to 6 weeks from the date the application is received; outstanding items are requested by email and pause issuance.) |
| Licensing authority | West Virginia Board of Examiners of Psychologists | Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Michigan sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Michigan's current requirements on the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Have license verification sent directly to the Bureau of Professional Licensing by every state or Canadian province where you hold or have ever held a psychologist license, showing good standing and any pending or completed discipline.
- Have your EPPP score verified electronically through ASPPB PSY|PRO score transfer.
- Have final official transcripts sent directly from the school attended, plus verification that you completed the educational requirements for psychologist licensure in the other state or province.
- Submit the Psychology Supervision Evaluation form documenting post-degree supervised professional experience.
- Complete a criminal background check, one-time human trafficking identification training, and 2 hours of implicit bias training within the 5 years preceding issuance.
- Pay the fees ($204 (Application fee plus 2-year license fee for a psychologist license is $204.00, payable only by credit or debit card. Applications and fees remain valid for two years. Biennial renewal is $209.60. Certified license verification from Michigan costs $15.00 per address.)) and allow 4–6 weeks (The Bureau states that applications are reviewed in the order received and that processing time typically varies from 4 to 6 weeks from the date the application is received; outstanding items are requested by email and pause issuance.).
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Michigan accept a West Virginia psychology license?
A psychology license transfers from West Virginia to Michigan by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs), verify your West Virginia license, and meet Michigan's endorsement requirements. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — endorsement applicants have their EPPP score verified electronically through the ASPPB PSY|PRO score-transfer service rather than re-sitting the exam; Michigan's psychologist licensing guide sets out no separate state jurisprudence examination.
Do I retake the EPPP moving from West Virginia to Michigan?
No — the EPPP is passed once and your score is verified rather than retaken. EPPP passing score transfers (not retaken) — endorsement applicants have their EPPP score verified electronically through the ASPPB PSY|PRO score-transfer service rather than re-sitting the exam; Michigan's psychologist licensing guide sets out no separate state jurisprudence examination.
What does the move cost?
$204 (Application fee plus 2-year license fee for a psychologist license is $204.00, payable only by credit or debit card. Applications and fees remain valid for two years. Biennial renewal is $209.60. Certified license verification from Michigan costs $15.00 per address.) (Application fee plus 2-year license fee for a psychologist license is $204.00, payable only by credit or debit card. Applications and fees remain valid for two years. Biennial renewal is $209.60. Certified license verification from Michigan costs $15.00 per address.).
How long will it take?
4–6 weeks (The Bureau states that applications are reviewed in the order received and that processing time typically varies from 4 to 6 weeks from the date the application is received; outstanding items are requested by email and pause issuance.) — The Bureau states that applications are reviewed in the order received and that processing time typically varies from 4 to 6 weeks from the date the application is received; outstanding items are requested by email and pause issuance..
West Virginia and Michigan are both PSYPACT states — doesn't my license transfer automatically?
No. PSYPACT never transfers a license, including between two participating states. It authorizes telepsychology into Michigan (APIT) and in-person practice there for up to 30 days a year (TAP) while your license stays in West Virginia. Relocating to Michigan requires licensure by endorsement from the Michigan Board of Psychology (Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs) like any other applicant.
Can I start seeing Michigan clients before my Michigan license is issued?
While your West Virginia license remains active and is your home-state license, a PSYPACT authorization can cover Michigan clients by telepsychology, and a TAP covers up to 30 days a year of in-person work there. Those are the compact's limits, and they end when West Virginia stops being your licensed home state — they are a bridge during a transition, not a substitute for the Michigan license.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Michigan Psychologist Licensing Guide and FAQs (rev. 1/26/2026) — Additional Requirements for Licensure by Endorsement, fees, and processing time ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Michigan LARA — Board of Psychology licensing information and forms ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists — Reciprocity Applicants / Oral Examination / Temporary License ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV Legislative Rule 17CSR3 §12.2 and §14.4 — reciprocity provision, CPQ/National Register portability waiver, oral examination ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV Legislative Rule 17CSR1 — Board of Psychologists fee schedule (application $120, oral exam $405, temporary permit $90) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- WV Board of Examiners of Psychologists — License Information (application pathways) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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